Affirmations – a New Look

Are You Deceiving Yourself?

I have read and thought a lot about affirmations in relation to my business, and something has always been nagging at me. Why should I dream up a list of unrealistic goals or outcomes and tell myself, over and over, they are true? In the many years of being told this is what I should do to be successful, there was one method that didn’t seem quite so bad. That was to ask in the form of a question, “How will I …….? ” That one is supposed to trigger your brain to figure out the answer and solve the problem. I have had some success with that method.

Turn Negative Thoughts into Positive

I was reading a meditation from Richard Rohr, which I do almost every day, when I was prompted to look back at an archived post on Affirmations.

What I learned from Richard Rohr is that we easily gravitate toward negative thoughts. If we believe our Creator made us to be originally good, we can listen to our thoughts, and change them to a positive version. So, when I find myself thinking, “I don’t have enough,” I can say instead, “I have everything I need.” Then I can repeat that new phrase aloud several times, and rest in the new awareness. Think of The Beatitudes – they present a counter-intuitive way of looking at the world.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Each of these statements in one way or another, make no sense. But they represent Truth with a capital T. In the same way, as we change our negative thoughts into positive ones, we can see our reality change.

Try these new affirmations:

These are examples of changing a negative thought into a positive one.

I don’t have enough time. I have all the time I need.

There’s not enough money this month. There is plenty for everything. (I would add a prayer to find the abundance around me)

I can’t sell, or write, or play the piano…. I can learn step by step. I can do this.

You can do it!

I hope you will try improving your thought life to a more positive one. With all that is going on around us these days, we need all the help we can get. Let’s change the one thing that is in our power to change – our own thoughts. I welcome your comments and questions. Let’s have a conversation.